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Serving Lazarus: Teaching Children Openness to Others’ Needs
Rich Man and Lazarus by Fyodor Andreyevich Bronnikov (1827–1902), via Wikimedia Commons Openness and Introversion? The other day I glanced down at an old Magnifikid from September that one of the kids...
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Building Stately Mansions
Chambered Nautilus hemishell showing the camerae in a logarithmic spiral. Via Wikimedia Commons You are the temple of God When I was in high school I memorized The Chambered Nautilus by Oliver Wendell...
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Children’s Books for Lent and Easter
It’s that time of year again, time to muster the books and plans for Lent with children. Time to look fondly on that box full of picture books for Advent and Christmas that I brought out just three...
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Benedict’s First Communion
Ben and Sophie, ready to go. Benedict made his first communion yesterday. It was at our regular Sunday Mass and he was the only child to receive. As homeschoolers, we do sacrament prep at home. Mass...
View ArticleOn the Redemptive Value of All Work
In his book about his experience in the Russian labor camps, He Leadeth Me, American Jesuit Father Walter Ciszek writes about how work is ennobling. Although I read this book five years ago, I don’t...
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St Isaac Jogues Illuminated Missal
Last fall after visiting an exhibition of medieval manuscripts I wrote about how I longed for an illuminated missal. In the comments to that post someone suggested I investigate the St Isaac Jogues...
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Kicking the Devil Down the Stairs: St Michael, Superheroes, Swords, and...
A mom in one of my Facebook groups is — understandably— concerned that her six year old boy is suddenly obsessed with the devil, talking about him constantly, asking lots of questions about the devil,...
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Agnus Dei and English Catholic History in Sun Slower Sun Faster
Agnus Dei Case, Italy, 15th Century, 1.6 cm x 1.6 cm, British Museum, LondonSource here Cecil picked out a little flat box and opened it. Inside was a circle of wax. There was an impression on it but...
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Solstice, 2020— Grace Notes at the Closing of the Year
Evening comes early on this solstice day. The sky lies under a heavy veil, but it is unseasonably warm and wet. We likely won’t see the marvelous conjunction, Jupiter and Saturn meeting once in 400...
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Poetry and Humility: Lessons in Good Discourse
Feeding of the Multitude, detail from the Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry, via Wikimedia Commons Poetry and Humility Last weekend I was invited to speak at a small online conference for Catholic...
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